NBA Basketball Handicapping Odds & Predictions
Are you ready for some basketball? I hope so, because the NBA kicks off this week. We’ll get a full season of the NBA, unlike last year when it was a strike-shortened season.
Who will be the top teams in the NBA this year?
Let’s take a look at the top ten teams in the league heading into the season. All odds listed are from Bovada
#10- New York Knicks
Odds to win Atlantic Division: +200
Season Win Total (Over/Under): 47
No team had a bigger roller coaster of a season than the Knicks last year. With Coach Woodson at the helm, I expect a better season from the Knicks this year. This team has too much talent to completely overlook. Anthony, Stoudemire, and Chandler should be better after more than a year together. I think this team is worth a play to win the Atlantic Division.
#9- Indiana Pacers
Odds to win Central Division: +100
Season Win Total (Over/Under): 50.5
The Indiana Pacers did some real damage in the playoffs last year. They nearly put the Miami Heat on the ropes, but they came up a bit short. Indiana added some good players in Gerald Green, D.J. Augustin, and Miles Plumlee. The thing that made this team make a big jump last year was the emergence of Roy Hibbert as a star down low. The Pacers have a great shot at winning the NBA Central since Derrick Rose will be out for so long. I like the value on the Pacers in the division.
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#8- Denver Nuggets
Odds to win Northwest Division: +750
Season Win Total (Over/Under): 51.5
I’m not quite as high on Denver as a lot of people are, but I do think they are a top ten team. I don’t like that they don’t have any go to guy in the clutch, because that is definitely a problem in the playoffs. George Karl does a nice job with this team, and Ty Lawson is the perfect guy to push the tempo with at point guard. Andre Iguodala should give the team a nice spark. Who will score down low for the Nuggets? I don’t think this team can stay with Oklahoma City.
#7- Boston Celtics
Odds to win Atlantic Division: +140
Season Win Total (Over/Under): 50.5
Boston lost Ray Allen in the offseason, but they improved their depth on the bench. Jeff Green is back and he has looked good in the preseason. If he can contribute in a big way, it takes pressure off Paul Pierce. The team is getting too old to be considered major title contenders. They’ll still win their fair share, but I don’t see any value on them with these odds.
#6- Memphis Grizzlies
Odds to win Southwest Division: +265
Season Win Total (Over/Under): 48.5
Memphis really blew a nice chance in the first round against the Clippers last year, but I’m still pretty high on this team. If the Grizzlies can stay healthy this year, they’ll be a team no one wants to see in the playoffs. Zach Randolph is a skilled big man, and Rudy Gay is still improving at the forward spot. Marc Gasol had a breakout year at center, and Mike Conley is a solid point guard. This team has no real weakness. I like the value on them to win the division. [ad-6571516]
#5- Los Angeles Clippers
Odds to win Pacific Division: +320
Season Win Total (Over/Under): 48.5
The Clippers had an up and down season last year, but it’s obvious that the combination of Chris Paul and Blake Griffin is dangerous. Can Lamar Odom turn into the player he used to be? If so, he could really help this team in the year ahead. The competition in the Pacific has gotten more difficult. I don’t expect the Clippers to win the division, but they should have a nice season.
#4- San Antonio Spurs
Odds to win Southwest Division: -155
Season Win Total (Over/Under): 56.5
The San Antonio Spurs didn’t do much of anything in the offseason. I guess that isn’t a terrible thing when you finish with the best record in the West. Still, the Spurs seem like they just don’t quite have enough to get past a team like the Thunder or the Lakers in the playoffs. I don’t want to bet against a team with veteran stars and a great coach, but I don’t see any value on them either.
#3- Oklahoma City Thunder
Odds to win Northwest Division: -1,200
Season Win Total (Over/Under): 60.5
I don’t really blame the team for getting rid of James Harden instead of paying him huge money, but it could hurt them a touch at first. Kevin Martin should fit into the system well though, so I consider it a fairly small loss. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are still getting better. This team needs to run some more offensive sets rather than just standing around and playing one-on-one basketball.
#2- Los Angeles Lakers
Odds to win Pacific Division: -425
Season Win Total (Over/Under): 59.5
The Lakers might not be the second best team at the beginning of the year, but I really like their upside potential. Who will be able to slow down a frontcourt of Gasol and Howard? Steve Nash may be 38 years old, but he’ll definitely get Kobe Bryant some more open looks. The odds are too pricy for me, but I definitely think this team is capable of winning an NBA title. They need to do it soon though, because they aren’t a young team.
#1- Miami Heat
Odds to win Southeast Division: -2,000
Season Win Total (Over/Under): 60.5
Miami comes into the 2012-2013 season as a much better team than they were a year ago. That should definitely scare the rest of the NBA. Ray Allen is a major upgrade from what they had at this position a year ago. Dwyane Wade is healthier, and that will make a big difference. LeBron James is clearly the best player in the NBA right now, and he can take over a game at any point. I think this team accomplishes a ton this year. They should win the title for a second straight year, and I would bet the over on their season win total of 60.5 games.
